Conwy, Wales
Located on the north coast of Wales near the mouth of the River Conwy, the medieval city of Conwy was built in the thirteenth century. We spent a day here starting with Conwy Castle, which had wide, designated parking spaces for motorhomes and/or caravans. What a bonus! We could park in one spot and explore the city all day on foot. Just how we like it!
Conwy Castle sports eight well preserved towers. Its restored spiral staircases encourage visitors to explore the ramparts and courtyards inside the walls. The sunny fall weather made for a lovely day. Sitting high above the town, the castle provides lovely views of the surrounding area.
After exploring the castle, we made our way to Plas Mawr, or the Great Hall. It is the best preserved Elizabethan-era house in the UK. Although it was the residence of a successful diplomat, Robert Winn, the main entrance is not ostentatious at all. You might miss it due to its location in a narrow lane.
Once inside Plas Mawr, you can wander from room to room (17 in all) immersed in how the wealthy lived during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603). The photo above features the dining hall. The garden in the courtyard has also been renovated to reflect plants grown in the time period. A delightful stop.
After visiting Plas Mawr, it was time for lunch. We found a cozy, little cafe on the main, but tiny, square in the old town. I tried Welsh Rarebit, which if said too fast sounds like, "Welsh Rabbit." It is not a rabbit dish, but rather a delicious open-faced grilled cheese sandwich with ham, as picture above.
Fueled up with lunch in our bellies, we began walking the wall around the town of Conwy. These are some of the best preserved medieval walls in Britain and feature panoramic views of the town, harbor, and surrounding hills.
We started near the castle. Our goal was to walk the entire wall around the town. The end of the wall can be seen jutting out onto the bank of the estuary at middle right in the photo above.
We made it! What an amazing walk all around the town of Conwy. My husband Brian is pictured above at the very endpoint of the wall; the harbor lies behind him at low tide. By the long shadows, you can see that we were running out of day.
We made our final stop along the quayside - at Great Britain's Smallest House. The house's floor area measures 10 feet by 5.9 feet. It was occupied until 1900 when the last tenant had to move out because it was condemned along with other buildings in the neighborhood. It has since been refurbished and available for tourists to view. What a full day in Conwy, Wales! A lovely town with much to see and appreciate.